Method and apparatus for mapping a community through user interactions on a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:
- registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community;
automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction; and
a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction; and
inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user.
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Abstract
A system for building a database that stores information representative of the organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network is disclosed. The system uses an online computer applications service that facilitates the initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community. Initially, a first user from the community registers on the computer applications service and information representative of the first user is stored in the database. Next, a first transaction record is created in the database from information inputted by the first registered user. The first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction, and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction. After creation of the first transaction record, the first unregistered user is invited to register with the service when information representative of the first transaction is sent to the first unregistered user. In response to this invitation, the first unregistered user registers with the service and information representative of the first unregistered user is stored in the database, thereby transforming the first unregistered user into a second registered user. After registration of the second user, further users from the community are invited onto the service and registered on the database by repeating the above process.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:
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registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction; and
a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction; andinviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:
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a server that registers a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service facilitates initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; wherein the server creates a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction; and
a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction;wherein the server invites the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user; and wherein the server registers the first unregistered user with the service, in response to a reaction of the first unregistered use to receipt of the information representative of the first transaction, by storing information representative of the first unregistered user in the database, thereby transforming the first unregistered use into a second registered user.
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12. A system for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network comprising:
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means for registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service facilitates initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; means for creating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first registered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction; and
a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction; andmeans for inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service by transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the first unregistered user; and means for registering the first unregistered user with the service, in response to a reaction of the first unregistered use to the inviting step, by storing information representative of the first unregistered user in the database, thereby transforming the first unregistered use into a second registered user.
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13. A method for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:
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storing information representative of the first user from the community in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; creating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a second user in the community, a field representing a role of the first user in the first transaction; and
a field representing a role of the second user in the first transaction; andtransmitting information representative of the first transaction to the second user; and storing further information representative of the hierarchical organizational structure of the community of users by; creating a further transaction record in the database from information inputted by a user initiating the further transaction, wherein the further transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a user in the community required to approve the further transaction, a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction, and a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction.
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14. A system for building a database that stores information representative of a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, comprising:
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means for storing information representative of the first user from the community in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; means for automatically generating a first transaction record in the database from information inputted by the first user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a second user in the community, a field representing a role of the first user in the first transaction; and
a field representing a role of the second user in the first transaction;means for transmitting information representative of the first transaction to the second user; and means for storing further information representative of the hierarchical organizational structure of the community of users, said means for storing further information including; means for creating a further transaction record in the database from information inputted by a user initiating the further transaction, wherein the further transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of a user in the community required to approve the further transaction, a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction, and a field representing a role of the user initiating the further transaction in the further transaction.
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15. A method for developing a database representing a hierarchical organizational structure of a community of users of a computer network, the method comprising:
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registering a first user from the community on a computer applications service by storing information representative of the first user in the database, wherein the computer applications service records initiation and completion of transactions between users in the community; automatically generating a first transaction record in the database in response to a first transaction between the first registered user and a first unregistered user, wherein the first transaction record includes at least one field representing an identity of the first unregistered user in the community, a field representing a role of the first registered user in the first transaction, and a field representing a role of the first unregistered user in the first transaction; and inviting the first unregistered user to register with the service. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification